Avast on Ubuntu

[jimijazz]

hi there,

i have installed and got avast running correctly but can someone please correct me if I'm wrong:

avast doesn't work as a "aways on" scanner?

i ask this because when i downloaded the test virus eicar file i could happily extract and open it
without avast detecting it.  Only when i ran a system scan did avast detect it.

avast doesn't show up as a running process when i use 'top' either - does it need to be registered as
a service or something?

am i missing something here? or is that normal behavior?

thanks for any comments.

[Lisandro]

hi there,
i have installed and got avast running correctly but can someone please correct me if I'm wrong:
avast doesn't work as a "aways on" scanner?

No, it doesn't. Only the server version is a resident for Linux.
But, do you really need an on-access protection on Linux? I don't think so...

avast doesn't show up as a running process when i use 'top' either - does it need to be registered as
a service or something?

Wasn't it show as avastgui process?

I use avast in Kubuntu (last beta version, Feisty).

[OrangeCrate]

This is a thread that Tech started a while back. It's quite informative as to the need of an antivirus program on Linux:

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=20929.0

[Adam8282]

I think you needn't antivirus under linux, because 99% viruses have been wrote for win. Anyway firewall is more important for linux security.

[Lisandro]

I think you needn't antivirus under linux, because 99% viruses have been wrote for win. Anyway firewall is more important for linux security.

An on-demand scanner won't harm, don't you think?

[Orline]

Hi,

I'm a "newbie^10" on Linux and Ubuntu 7.04, that I installed yesterday.
So far, so good ! First thing I thought of was to install anti virus program.
Looked on internet - they say best of all is Avast!
Downloaded "avast4workstation_1.0.6-2_i386.deb" on the desktop.
Used command "sudo dpkg -i avast4workstation_1.0.6-2_i386.deb" and it worked (anazing !  ) Went to site to apply for license key, got it, entered it and scanned, then upgdated program.
The only problem : I cannot get the icon in Aplication/Accessories list.
Went in the directory window by window in : /usr/lib/avast4workstation/share/avast/desktop
(otherwise how to do cd/usr/lib/avast4workstation/share/avast/desktop ? ) HAve not a RUN window as in Windows ...
Used command as shown here : sudo ./install-desktop-entries.sh instal
Nothing in the list.
Used OPEN by other application, then USE a custom Command and inserted "sudo ./install-desktop-entries.sh install"
Rebooted.
Nothing in the Application/Accessories list.

What is wrong, please

Thanks, Orline

[Lisandro]

These commands will install avast!'s icons&links into the Applications > Accessories > avast! Antivirus menu.

cd /usr/lib/avast4workstation/share/avast/desktop && sudo ./install-desktop-entries.sh install

[Orline]

Hi Tech,
You say :
"These commands will install avast!'s icons&links into the Applications > Accessories > avast! Antivirus menu.
cd /usr/lib/avast4workstation/share/avast/desktop && sudo ./install-desktop-entries.sh install"

Look in my post --> I DID it already !! Doesn't work !!

Orline

[Lisandro]

Look in my post --> I DID it already !! Doesn't work !!

Sorry. I misread your post.
I'm not a Linux expert. Maybe you can post which error message are you receiving and wait for Dublin to come here and help us on this...

[Orline]

No responce, looks like everything is OK.
But ni icon in menu ...
Orline

[horned0wl]

Hello!

I fell in love with Avast! several years ago, and have been using it on my Windoze systems ever since.  So, when I discovered there was a variant available for Linux, that would supposedly work with Ubuntu (7.04, Feisty), I snatched it in a heartbeat!  Both .deb/gdebi and .tar.gz/package manager will install for me.  I got it loaded.

My current problem is twofold: 
1.  None of the desktop pretties I'm accustomed to showed up -- the launch and system tray icons.  Not even a shortcut link. I have to do a desktop search, and find it under Applications to run it.
2.  And, that brings me to the second problem:  Apparently, I have to manually update it.  And I was so accustomed to the many-times-a-day audio advisory from Avast! on my Windoze system: "Your virus database has been updated!"

I love the product, and will continue to use it, but, how can I get it close to the functionality I had in Windoze?

Cheers!

Ed Tillman
San Antonio, TX USA

[horned0wl]

Ok...  Scrub the first half of the problem:  I read the forum completely, ran the script, and discovered where my starter icon fell: I expected to find it in Applications > System tools > , but finally located it in Applications > Accessories >. I was able to load the Avast! starter icon onto my "panel" (left end of the task bar) for ease of location and starting.

However, I'd still like to know how to get it to auto-update... 

Cheers

Ed

[Lisandro]

However, I'd still like to know how to get it to auto-update... 

As far I know, the automatic update is not a built-in feature.
You'll need to configure it (if possible) trough Cron.
I'm not sure that this is even possible because, maybe, there isn't a service.
Sorry, I couldn't be of that help here. Oh, at least, I have Kubuntu either

[horned0wl]

Hmm.  Ok; since I'm a relative noob to Linux/Ubuntu, and I already have cron on my system (at least, ./ apt-get tells me I do...); could you advise where I might go to learn to use it?  I'm not afraid of the CLI, so that's not an issue.

Cheers;

Ed

[vendion]

However, I'd still like to know how to get it to auto-update... 

As far I know, the automatic update is not a built-in feature.
You'll need to configure it (if possible) trough Cron.
I'm not sure that this is even possible because, maybe, there isn't a service.
Sorry, I couldn't be of that help here. Oh, at least, I have Kubuntu either

I was able to get the GUI to do an Auto update on my openSUSE box with Avast4Linuxworkstation 1.0.8.  Just go to preferences -> Update and you have Three options:
1. Automatically
2. Ask when updates are available
3. Manually

Sadly there is no audio to tell you when this happens.